Vehicle structure



. 1,621,035 1927' N. w. STORER ET VEHICLE STRUCTURE Filed May 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: INVEF'JTO R5 N Norman MS70.-er and 1,621,() 5 March 1927' N. w. STORER ET AL 3 VEHICLE STRUCTURE Filed May 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w TNESSES: INVENTORS 3 Norman IM Sforerana ThomasJ. Scat W ATTRNEY 1 Patented 1-5,. i927.

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Application filed May 4,

Our invention relates to railway vehicles, more particularly to railway vehicle trucks of the swing bolster type wherein provision is made for supporting the vehicle cab or a frame by means of a center pin connection to the bolster member.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide a railway vehicle truck embodying a swing bolster which shall be provided H) with yielding cushioning means for the center pin support to yieldingly carry the load on the center pin and distribute the same over a relatively wide area.

Another object of our invention is to pro- 16 vide a bolster construction for vehicle trucks embodying pneumatic means for supporting the weight of the vehicle thereon which shall be of simple, compact and durable mechanical construction and which shall comprise a minimum number of parts.

Another object of our invention is to. provide a swing bolster construction for vehicle trucks in which the center pin support is carried or supported on a plurality of fluid pressure columns which are connected to a common source of fluid pressure and which are isolated to constitute separate or individual ressure units.

Another object of our invention is to pro- 80 vide a swing bolster construction for railway vehicles that utilizes a plurality of inflatable cushions comprising outer. casings or shoes and inner casings, which are severall connected by pipe lines to a source of flui pres- 38 sure to maintain a uniform pressure therein and which are rovided with a one-way valve to prevent eflation of the casing members when pressure falls in the supply system.

Heretofore, swing bolster trucks have been provided with various types of spring elements to support the load on the center pin mounting by which the truck is connected to the vehicle cab or frame, or for the pur- 5 pose of providing a resilient connection between the vehicle and its supporting trucks. Our present invention is directed to a truck structureembodying pneumatic cushioning means for replacing the spring ele- 59 ments heretofore utilized in order to provide greater stability, eliminate breakage of the 1925. Serial No. 87,695.

which will appear from the following 0- scription of our invention. v In the accompanying drawin s constituting a part hereof and in which 1 e reference characters designate like arts,

Fig. 1 s a view, partia y in cross section and partially in side elevation of a railway vehicle truck, showing a fra entary ortion of the vehicle body embo ying one orm of our invention;v v

2 is a view, partiall in section and partially in end elevation, o the truck mechanism shown in Fi 1, taken along the line 11-11 thereof; and v Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the swing bolster, taken along the line III-III of Fig 1.

Referring to igs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I the structure therein illustrated comprises a center frame member 1 Fig. 2},journaled 75 upon a plurality'of whee ed. ax es 2 by the usual j ournal-box construction 3. A plurality of motors 4 are secured to the frame member 1 and maybe 0 eratively connected to the axles 2 by suitab e gear-wheels (not shown).

The motor frames are provided with verti cally extending lugs 5 having openings therein that are adapted to receive stud pins 6 of swing links 7 which are similarly engaged to the bottom frame portion 80f a swing bolster. The bolster member 8 is provided with an I-beam section 9 that is built up of angle irons 10 and an intermediate plate 11.- A pair of channelmembers 12 are disposed on the bolster, and a center pin mounting bracket 13, which is provided with a center pin 14, is carried b the channel. member 12. The latter is yieldingly su ported by a plurality of pneumatic cu ions 15, which are disposed between a pair of protecting plates 16 that rest' against the I-beam 9 and channel 12. The plates 16 have an offset or raised central portion'16 for a purpose to be set forth.

between the plates 16 of the bolster and 1 their respective capacity for cal-(lazing the et 13 is i 8 is shown a section; of the cushrs 15, which com uses an outer load to which the center pin bra subjected 'In Fi ion me casing or shoe 17 that is shoe of an automobile tire and an inner casing 18, which is disposed therein m engement with the offset central portions of t e plates 16. A suitable valve member 19 is secured to thebottom plate 16 and the casing 18 of the cushion member, and a p1pe 20, .exten from the valve through an o g 21 in the member 11, connects all of the cushions to a common suppl 22, which is connected to a source 0 fluid pressure such as a, compressor, or the like (not shown).

The cushions 15 are of such slze and proportions as to provide a sufiicient carrying capacity for the bolster member within the limits of satisfactory working pressures, so as to prevent blow-outs of the casm .In 0 oration the pneumatic cus 'ons 15 are iniiiited through the supply system 22 and the valve stems 20 to carry a pressure suitable to su port the load on the center pin 14, which is a substantial portion of the weight of the vehicle body and its equ1 ment. Swin ing movement between t e vehicle and t etruck is provided by means of the swing links 7 and the pneumatic cushion provides .an otherwise stable seating effect between the vehicle and the truck that is not found in the prior type of spring su rted' bolsters.

ith our construction the vehicle rides V very smoothly and is not subject to the shock and pounding of the wheels on the rails and, furthermore, the cushioning means practically eliminates the vibration inherent in railway vehicles. This construction further materially reduces the wei ht of the truck and provides a sufficient yie din support for the car body.

though we have illustrated our invention as embodied in a railway vehicle, it is obvious that it ma be applied to street vehicles and for 0t er purposes than for cushioning the bolster support. For instance, it may be a lied in any manner for supporting car ho es either on their subes or upon the trucks without the swing bolster connection.

aped like the line embodiment of our invention, it ,will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various 'modifications may be made in the details of construction, the size and proportion of the several cooperating the manner of their application, without departingfrom the prlnciples herein set forth.-

We claim as our invention:

1. A vehicle truck com rising a frame journalled upon a plura 't of wheeled axles, a swing bolster there or, and pneumatic means within said bolster for supporting the load to which said bolster 1s subjec d.

2. A vehicle truck com rising a frame' parts and bolster plate carried on said bolster, and

pneumatic supports for said plate.

4. A vehicle truck com rising a frame journalled upon a plur 'ty of wheeled axles, a motor secured to said frame, a swing bolster movably mounted on said frame, and associated with said motor, a a bolster plate carried on said bolster, and a plurality of fluid-pressure devices for supporting the bolster plate.

5. A vehicle truck comprising a frame journalled upon a plurality of wheeled axles, a motor secured to saidframe, a swing bolster movably mounted on said frame, and associated with said motor, a bolster late carried on said bolster, a plurality o inflated members for supporting the bolsterplate', and means for maintaining pressure in sa1d supporting members. I

.6. A vehicle truck comprising a frame journalled upon a plurality of wheeled axles, a motor secured to said frame, a swin bolster movably mounted on said frame an associated with said motor, a bolster plate carried on said bolster, a plurality of inflated members for supportin the bolster plate, and a common source of uid-pressure or said supporting members.

7. A vehicle truck comprising a frame journalled upon a plurality of wheeled axles, a swing bolster hinged on said frame, a

center mu support carried on said bolster and a plurality of air cushions dispose between said support and bolster, said cushions comprising an outer casing or shoe and an inner casing, and a source of fluid pressure connected to said inner casings.

8. A vehicle truck com rising a framejournalled upon a plur ity of wheeled axles, a swing bolster hinged on said frame, for connecting said source to the respective a center pin support carried on said bolster, inner casings. and aplurality of air cushions disposed be- In testimony whereof, we have hereunto l0 tween said support and bolster, said subscribed our names this 29th day of April,

'6 cushions comprising an outer casing or shoe 1925.

and an inner casin a source of fluid pres- NORMAN W. STORER. sure and pipe lines aving individual valves THOMAS S. SCOTT. 

